Collection Highlights
Section of water pipe
1800-1840
X.47
Wood, iron
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Hard Times token
Object name
Hard Times token
Date
1837
Medium
Metal
Dimensions
Overall: 1 1/8 in. ( 2.9 cm )
Description
Token; metal; depiction of Lady Liberty's profile surrounded by a ring of stars on the obverse, a ring of garland on the the reverse; obverse "E PLURIBUS UNUM / 1837" reverse "MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE / NOT / ONE / CENT / FOR TRIBUTE"
Object Number
INV.13718.8
Gallery Label
In 1837 and again in 1857, financial crises caused loss of confidence in paper money and widespread redemption of currency in coin. Banks were soon forced to suspend specie payments, and tokens and fractional notes had to serve as smaller change.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
